ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 169
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
INTRODUCED JUNE 9, 1997
By Assemblymen DeCROCE, CHARLES and Doria
An Assembly Resolution memorializing the Congress of the United States to approve a project request, as part of the reauthorization of the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, to support the efforts to enhance trans-harbor rail-freight float-barging operations throughout the Port of New York and New Jersey.
Whereas, The Port of New York and New Jersey ("port district") is at a critical and historic juncture in its economic development as the Northeast's primary transportation hub; and
Whereas, The port district's transportation network will be increasingly pressured to facilitate the movement of both people and freight commodities throughout the port district as efficiently and as cost effectively as possible; and
Whereas, Although the port district is endowed with an existing rail-freight infrastructure, this infrastructure is in need of comprehensive repair and modernization and is currently underutilized because of these conditions, resulting in a considerable imbalance between the use of rail freight and the use of truck freight throughout the port district; and
Whereas, The New York Cross Harbor Railroad (NYCHRR), the port district's only interstate short-line marine rail-freight carrier, with direct links to the recently approved "Conrail, CSX and the Norfolk & Southern Network," is considered a key rail-freight hub for the port district and an integral part of the effort to improve interstate rail-freight commerce between the economic and transportation networks of New Jersey and New York; and
Whereas, The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) is a six-year program authorized to provide a total of $155 billion for highway and mass transportation purposes; and
Whereas, ISTEA has provided significant, annual federal funding to New Jersey and all other states to help develop a strong, globally-competitive economy and to improve the mobility, safety and well-being of our nation's residents; and
Whereas, The NYCHRR has requested, as part of the reauthorization of the ISTEA, approval of a project, entitled the "Rail Freight Initiative," to enhance the NYCHRR's operational infrastructure and to upgrade its operational equipment, in order to bolster its ability to facilitate interstate commerce in the port district; and
Whereas, This "Rail Freight Initiative," would include a minimal expenditure of $4.75 million from the ISTEA reauthorization bill, with 80 percent of the estimated project cost coming from the federal government, and with the NYCHRR funding the remaining 20 percent; and
Whereas, $1.5 million of the $4.75 million cost will be used for improvements to the NYCHRR's Greenville Yards facilities in Jersey City, which will allow the NYCHRR to handle much higher volumes of rail freight, without cost to the State of New Jersey or the city of Jersey City; and
Whereas, Congressional approval of the "Rail Freight Initiative" will serve to correct the current imbalance between regional truck freight and the use of rail and intermodal freight systems throughout the Port of New York and New Jersey, and promote the development of, and the investment in, enhanced rail, intermodal and float-barging systems within the port district; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Congress of the United States is memorialized to approve a project request, as part of reauthorization of the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, to support the efforts to enhance trans-harbor rail-freight float-barging operations throughout the Port of New York and New Jersey.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested to by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the Vice President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and each member of Congress elected thereto from New Jersey.
STATEMENT
This Assembly resolution memorializes the Congress of the United States to approve a project request, as part of the reauthorization of the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991, to support the efforts to enhance trans-harbor rail-freight float-barging operations throughout the Port of New York and New Jersey. The New York Cross Harbor Railroad (NYCHRR) has requested approval and funding of the "Rail Freight Initiative," to enhance the NYCHRR's operational infrastructure and to upgrade its operational equipment, in order to bolster its ability to facilitate interstate commerce in the port district.
This "Rail Freight Initiative" would include a minimal expenditure of $4.75 million from the ISTEA reauthorization bill, with 80 percent of the estimated project cost coming from the federal government, and with the NYCHRR funding the remaining 20 percent. Of the $4.5 million total, $1.5 million will be used for improvements to the NYCHRR's Greenville Yards facilities in Jersey City, which will allow the NYCHRR to handle much higher volumes of rail freight, without cost to the State of New Jersey or the city of Jersey City. Congressional approval of the "Rail Freight Initiative" will serve to correct the current imbalance between regional truck freight and the use of rail and intermodal freight systems throughout the Port of New York and New Jersey, and promote the development of, and the investment in enhanced rail, intermodal and float-barging systems within the port district.
Memorializes Congress to approve project request to improve trans-harbor rail-freight float-barging operations throughout Port of New York and New Jersey.